World championship No.3 for Peter Sagan - Top Story. All the World road race results with reports, rider quotes and videos in a very full EUROTRASH Monday. Plus the Omloop van het Houtland. In other cycling news: Milano-Torino preview, four days for Yorkshire, contract news form BMC, Lotto Soudal, Wanty-Groupe Gobert, Cofidis, LottoNL-Jumbo, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA and Movistar. John Degekolb in hospital, Bahrain-Merida in 2018 and video of secret training! Monday coffee time.

TOP STORY: Peter Sagan - Legend
Peter Sagan re-wrote the record books on Sunday in Bergen, Norway. The Slovakian won his third World road race title, joining a select club of riders who have 'done the triple'. Alfredo Binda, Rik Van Steenbergen, Eddy Merckx and Óscar Freire are all on three wins, but none of them won their three rainbow jerseys on consecutive years. Also Sagan is still in his prime as a rider and could add to his total. Unless the World's road race organizers change the style of the courses and go for total climbing, like Sallanches in 1980 or Duitama in 1995, then Peter Sagan could make more History.

2018 may finish his run of rainbow jerseys as it is rumored that Innsbruck will be a climbers course. Former professional cyclist Thomas Rohregger, who is closely involved in the route planning, explains: "We are planning a route for the Men Elite race with approximately 5,000 meters of altitude difference. I am convinced that we will experience one of the most challenging races in the history of the UCI World Championships."

Four in a row in 2018? Maybe not.

Peter Sagan - Triple Champion:

World Road Championships 2017
The World time trail events have passed and it was the turn of the road men and women to do their thing in Bergen. The course provided the perfect stage for all the action and gave us worthy winners.

World Elite Men's Road Race Championships
Having worn the jersey for the past two years, it looked as though Peter Sagan might have to relinquish his grip on the Rainbow Stripes, with a break leading to the final kilometer. As the last few bends came into view though, the Slovak rider found himself in the perfect position to take his record-breaking third UCI World Championship, confirming his status as a cycling legend.

The attacks came from the very start of the day. With some countries represented by only one rider, tactics would play a pivotal role in their race, and so this group of ten was a mix of the bigger teams and the smaller players. This group managed to draw out a lead of ten minutes on the peloton, but there was still a lot of racing to go. As the remaining kilometers dropped, so too did the advantage – and with 100km to go, the peloton was dangerously close to touching distance. The race still had 76km to go when the final member of the break was swept up – and this was when the fireworks really started, with so far still to go before the finish, further attacks came thick and fast.

A small break managed to gain a lead on the peloton, and it was clear that the race was really starting to open up, the bunch clearly working to make sure this escape didn’t gain too much time, the gap rising and falling, but never breaking a minute. The efforts of this group wasn't to last, and with just 25km remaining, it was again all back together. The size of the peloton – more than sixty riders – made sure they had the strength to reel in any attacks, and with one lap ahead of them, no single rider had staked their claim on the race. Back in the bunch, Peter Sagan kept a low profile – a sure sign of a rider conserving energy for the fight still to come.

With one lap to go the peloton was injected with a surge of pace. While the race was all together, there was clear jostling for position on the front as the final climb of Salmon Hill loomed, where, to be in contention in the finale, riders would have to be in a good position on the descent. 10km to go and a final attack left the bunch struggling to keep up, stretching them to the limit, but with only ten seconds between them and the break, it looked as though this slim advantage might still be enough. Hitting the flame rouge for the final kilometer and rounding the final bends, the peloton was on the wheels of the break, and the reigning UCI World Champion, Peter Sagan was only a few positions back.

With the finish line in sight, Sagan was on the wheel of Alexander Kristoff and surged past the Norwegian, throwing his bike at the line in the sprint to take the ‘Three-Peter’ – three consecutive World Championship wins. Australia's Michael Matthews took the bronze medal.

Triple World champion, Peter Sagan (Slovakia):"It wasn’t easy! The last 5km, I said to myself it was already done – it’s gone. Then it changed in the front, then I tried to go in the breakaway, and then Gaviria tried to close the gap after which we managed to get it all back together for a sprint. It’s unbelievable. I’m sorry for Kristoff – he’s racing at home after all – but I’m very happy to win again. Three UCI World Championships – it’s special for sure. It doesn’t change anything, but it’s really special. It’s hard to say before a race what will happen. You saw in the climb we were already splitting into two or three pieces. We were being caught from behind and then there was a break in the front, but I was lucky to come into the finish where I did – you can’t predict it – if somebody is stronger in the front, they can easily take the win. I'd like to thank my national team – Slovakia – and my friends in the group. I want to dedicate my victory to Michele Scarponi – it would have been his birthday tomorrow. It was a sad thing to have happened this year – my best wishes to all his family. I also dedicate this victory to my wife – we’re expecting a baby, and this is a fantastic end to the season. I’m very happy."

Silver Medal, Alexander Kristoff (Norway):"I'm badly annoyed by myself and considering how the job worked. I felt good, but I have no more to go on in the sprint. I felt I had it, but Sagan came over. We had two leaders today, me and Edvald Boasson Hagen, and the rest of the team worked well to get us in good positions. We both had good opportunities to get the best result, but eventually I was there and I am very pleased with that. Unfortunately, I was not quick enough. It was close, so I have to be happy with the result, but I'm of course disappointed. It was quite insane, a lot of people. When you think of how many people were all over the course, then it's sick. It was a crazy atmosphere."

Bronze Medal, Michael Matthews (Australia):"I was in a good position with around 500m to go but I got a little bit swamped by Sagan and one of the Czech riders. I tried to fight my way back between the last two corners but I wasted that energy when I needed it for the sprint. I had to use a lot of energy just to get back and then they launched the sprint just as I got back."

World Elite Women's Road Race Championships
Chantal Blaak (Netherlands) soloed to victory on Saturday afternoon in the Elite Women’s Road Race in Bergen. Katrin Garfoot (Australia) took the Silver medal and 2016 champion. Amalie Dideriksen (Denmark) was third. Earlier in the race Blaak was involved in a crash, but she rejoined the peloton to attack with just under 8 kilometers remaining and finish 28 seconds ahead of the chasing bunch.

The first attack of the day came from Sara Penton (Sweden), who attacked on the first lap and had 37 seconds lead at the start of lap 2. She was eventually joined by Melissa Lowther (Great Britain) on the second lap, but both were pulled back by the top of the climb on the 3rd lap.

Lap 5 saw Amy Pieters (Netherlands), Rachel Neylan (Australia) and Hannah Barnes (Great Britain) escape, their effort was helped a big crash in the peloton with 66 kilometers to go. Eventual winner, Blaak was one of the affected riders, but she did rejoin the race. Pieters, Neylan and Barnes had 35 second at the end of the 5th lap. With 50km to go Elinor Barker (Great Britain), Lucinda Brand (Netherlands) and Gracie Elvin (Australia) got across to them on the descent. In the end this move was doomed.

A very dangerous large group slipped off with many of the top women, but this again came to nothing as they were caught with 23 kilometers to go and this is when Chantal Blaak attacked along with Barnes and Cordon to pass the last lap bell with 32 seconds advantage. The three leaders were joined by Katrina Garfoot (Australia), Van der Breggen, Niewiadoma and Annemiek van Vleuten (Netherlands) on the final climb.

Van Vleuten attacked on the descent of Salmon Hill, but was caught an it was the time for Blaak to make her move with 8 kilometers to go and solo to the finish. Garfoot, Niewiadoma, Barnes and Cordon tried to pull the Dutch girl back, but were only fast enough to hole the peloton at bay, although they caught them on the finish line, 28 seconds after Blaak had crossed it. Garfoot won the sprint ahead of Dideriksen, with Van Vleuten 4th and Niewiadoma in 5th.

2017 World champion, Chantal Blaak (Netherlands):"When I woke up this morning, I was motivated to make it a hard race but I didn’t expect I’d be the one to cross the finish line first. This is my biggest victory that’s for sure. I dreamed about it happening but it’s hard to do it. But you know it’s possible, I know I can win big races, everything just needs to be perfect and today it was. There’s always a bit of drama when I crash and I thought my race was over, I was in pain and it took me a lot of time to get going again. But I told myself it was last race of the season and that the team needed me. I talked to the girls and we decided to continue the original plan. I’m glad I did."

2nd, Katrin Garfoot (Australia):"I've won quite a few medals. They all mean a lot to me in a different kind of way, each has an individual story attached to them. This was a lottery. When Chantal Blaak went I hesitated thinking that maybe Annemiek van Vleuten or Anna van Der Breggen wanted it more and so they'd chase. I just knew that if I'd chased, they would have attacked me and so I rest my legs for the sprint or a late attack. In the sprint, I didn't even realize we'd been caught. I was just focused on my race. We wanted to wait until deep into the race when the Dutchies would attack. We wanted more numbers up there but it was just myself."

3rd, Amalie Dideriksen (Denmark):"It wasn't totally my course, but I'm proud to get a medal and show I defended as well as I could. I was nervous if we could catch them or not, and we did in the last corner, and I had to start my sprint early to get past them. I had to take the long way around the corner and then zig-zag through people to get to the front. It was 50m too short to get the silver, but I'm proud to get a medal. We did a good team effort today, and the girls tried to help me the best they could, and I'm happy to get a medal for them, also. I was optimistic, we saw in the other races that it could come back together, at least for the medals. I was optimistic, and I did the best race I could. I was in front when we started the climb and I could slowly get to the back of the group and that way get over the climbs. I did the best I could, so I'm happy with a medal. If I can't win it, it's OK that it's Chantal. She's a nice girl and she can be very proud of herself."

World Men's Under 23 Road Race Championships
Benoit Cosnefroy (France) won the 191 kilometer Men’s U23 Road Race in Bergen beating Germany’s Lennard Kämna in a sprint, 3 seconds ahead of a chasing pack. Michael Carbel Svendgaard (Denmark) won the sprint for 3rd place and the bronze medal with Britain's Oliver Wood in fourth.

A six riders escaped on lap one, they were joined by a few other riders to build up a lead of around two and a half minutes and the race situation stayed that way till about 90 kilometers to go, in the 191 kilometer race. What was left of the bunch lifted the speed and the race was brought together.

Under the impetus of America's Brandon McNulty a group split off the front, he was joined by: Jai Hindley (Australia), Pavel Sivakov (Russia), Rasmus Fossum Tiller (Norway), Patrick Muller (Switzerland), Gustav Hoog (Sweden), Scott Davies (Great Britain) and Yevgeniy Gidich (Kazakhstan) for a lead of 1:30. With three laps to go the Spanish team instigated a chase group and it all got together again with over two laps remaining. On the penultimate climb of Salmon Hill Bjorg Lambrecht (Belgium) attacked, but his lead was short lived and the lead group was together for the last lap bell.

There were various attacks before the last climb with splits and regroupments, but it was Lennard Kämna (Germany) who pulled back an escape and then went solo before the climb to crest the summit with 10 seconds in hand on a group of seven including Cosnefroy. The Frenchman took his chance on the decent and caught Kämna and the pair put their heads down to hold off the chase behind.

The chase was breathing down their necks, but Kämna tried an attack with just under 4K to go, which failed. Cosnefroy led-out the sprint and Kämna couldn't come past him before the line.

Race winner, Benoit Cosnefroy (France):"I had been thinking about winning for a while, but there sometimes is a big gap between thinking of it and doing it! It’s crazy what happened today! Pierre-Yves Chatelon wanted me to play only for the win, and we put everything on the last climb.
After hesitating a little on the descent, I launched my attack. There could be no regrets. In the end, I was afraid that I had done too much. I just wanted to win. It is difficult to compare this to my victory at the Grand Prix d'Isbergues, but I know that I have had quite a week. Now I just want to enjoy this title with everyone."

World Men's Junior Road Race Championships
Julius Johansen (Denmark) took the solo win in the Junior Men's World championships Road Race on Saturday morning. Italy took second and third places with Luca Rastelli and Michele Gazzoliin 51 seconds behind the Dane.

Seven riders escaped on the 45 kilometer stretch before the five laps of the circuit and had over a minute lead as they entered Bergen. The race changed with riders being dropped from the lead and some more crossing over to them. With less than two laps remaining Johansen jumped across to the break which was down to four riders. He didn't waste time in going solo and had a 10 second lead with less than 15 kilometers remaining. The Dane built up a lead of nearly a minute on a chase group of ten by the finish.

Italy's Luca Rastelli tried to cross to the Dane, but had no chance of making contact and only just held off the chase for second place, his teammate Michele Gazzoliin sprinted in for third.

Junior World champion, Julius Johansen (Denmark):"I can’t believe it. I know I have a good shape. Along the way, there were a lot of guys in breakaways, but my teammates did an amazing job to keep it all together. I could do it at the finish. It was fantastic."

World Women's Junior Road Race Championships
Elena Pirrone doubled up on her junior women's time trial title with the road race title on Friday in Bergen. The Italian went solo from the depleted bunch on the decent of Salmon Hill to solo the final 30 kilometers for the win. Emma Norsgaard Jorgensen (Denmark) out-sprinted Pirrone's teammate Letizia Paternoster from a chase group of 13 riders 12 seconds after Pirrone crossed the line.

The Junior Women’s race was 76.4 kilometers, four laps of a 19.1km circuit with the 1.4km climb of Salmon Hill every lap.

Norsgaard Jorgensen went off the front in the first lap of four of 19.1 kilometers in the 76.4 kilometer race, but she was pulled back for the serious action to start on the third lap. Australia's Madeleine Fasnacht was first to make a proper attack on the climb, but it was Pirrone who launched her move on the decent and had 15 seconds on the chasers with a lap remaining.

At the start of the final climb Pirrone had 40 seconds on the group behind and as they were not working together the race for the Rainbow Jersey was over as Pirrone went into TT mode. Norsgaard Jorgensen was the hardest worker in the chase and deserved her silver medal. Letizia Paternoster filled the third step of the podium.

Omloop van het Houtland 2017
Tom Devriendt takes first pro victory in Houtland and deals with difficult period. On Wednesday Tom Devriendt rode to his first pro victory in Omloop van het Houtland (1.1, 20/09). The Belgian thus deals with a difficult 2017 season that was disturbed by knee injuries. With 40 kilometers to go Tom Devriendt accelerated together with Brian Van Goethem and Maarten Wynants. The maximum advantage of the three companions was only 45 seconds and in the peloton Lotto Soudal chased for a bunch sprint with André Greipel. The three companions in front worked together very well and held off the peloton. In the sprint Devriendt was faster than Wynants. The 25-year old Belgian thus conquered the flowers for the first time in his third year as a professional. The win is Wanty-Groupe Gobert's sixth UCI victory in 2017.

Tom Devriendt (Wanty-Groupe Gobert):"Forty kilometers from the line I accelerated together with Van Goethem and Wynants. We really rode for our life and could withstand the peloton. In the sprint we were all three "à bloc". I'm lucky I don't have to win solo but I can also finish it in the sprint. I am especially grateful to the team that in all the difficult times they kept confidence in me during the past year. After knee surgeries in January and February I restarted competition too fast in mid April. Conditionally I didn't go well that time but also mentally I was rather deep. Not that I would stop cycling, but I thought about it for a while. I had a two-year contract, which was not easy for the team. It was a difficult period, but the team never stopped giving me confidence. Today again. At this moment I did not expect a first victory, although I felt very strong over the past two weeks. That is why I also slipped into the breakaway in GP de Wallonie and Primus Classic. I will celebrate this victory a bit, but won't do stupid things. There are still a lot of nice races in which I want to go full gas!"

Milano-Torino: Colle di Superga to Decide the Winner
The first RCS Sport Autumn Classics will be raced on 5 October on an almost identical course to the last edition, when Miguel Angel Lopez won from Michael Woods and Rigoberto Uran. The race starts at San Giuliano Milanese (Sesto Ulteriano) and finishes on the Colle di Superga (climbed twice) after 186km.

Now at its 98th edition – but older than any other bicycle race, having been first run in 1876 – Milano-Torino is 141 years old. Previously won by many great cycling champions, this race – organized by RCS Sport/La Gazzetta dello Sport – is an international level Classic end of season cycling battle. The last edition was won by Miguel Angel Lopez with an attack on the ramps of the Colle di Superga.

The Course:
The route starts in San Giuliano Milanese (Sesto Ulteriano) and rolls across the Po Valley along flat roads, all the way through the Vigevano and Lomellina plains, up to Casale Monferrato, where the race profile becomes wavier, with gentle climbs and descents that lead to the final circuit.

The route rolls past San Mauro Torinese and all along the Po River in Corso Casale, where it takes in the first climb to the Basilica of Superga. The road then drops down into Rivodora on a technical descent (diverting 600 meters before the finish) that leads back to San Mauro. Here the route goes up again, all the way to the finish, with gradients exceeding 10%. The fixed feed zone is in Casale Monferrato (km 91-94).

Final kilometers:
The last 5km (to be covered twice, with the exception of the final 600m) start in Torino, in Corso Casale, at the foot of the climb that leads to the Basilica of Superga. The average gradient is 9.1%, with a mid-climb peak of 14% and long stretches with 10% gradients. There is a left-hand U-turn 600m before the finish that leads to a short 8.2% climb, with one last bend 50m before the finish, on 7m wide asphalt road.

Teams:
The 19 teams (14 UCI WorldTeams and 5 UCI Professional Continental Teams) of eight riders who will participate in 98th Milano-Torino are:

Tour de Yorkshire to Grow from Three to Four Days in 2018
Yorkshire has received a huge boost today with the news that the Tour de Yorkshire will grow from three to four days in 2018.

Organizers Welcome to Yorkshire and A.S.O had been seeking to extend the race after its phenomenal success over the last three years, and cycling’s world governing body the UCI confirmed the decision on Thursday with the four-day Tour de Yorkshire being included on their 2018 Europe Tour calendar between Thursday 3rd and Sunday 6th May.

And if that wasn’t enough, the Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire will also double in size next year, increasing from one to two days on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th May.

The news will bring far-reaching benefits to the county and further enhance Yorkshire’s reputation as a world-class cycling destination. The Tour de Yorkshire was launched in 2015 following the hugely successful Tour de France Grand Départ 12 months previously, and it has since grown to become one of the sport’s best-supported and most exciting races.

This year’s event was broadcast live in 180 countries and a record 2.2 million fans lined the route. The race also generated £64 million for the Yorkshire economy and the Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire remains one of the most lucrative events in the sport.

Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity said: "This is absolutely tremendous news and something we have long been working to achieve. We are grateful to British Cycling for supporting our application, and to the UCI for granting us this extension."

"Seeing the Tour de Yorkshire grow into what it is today is one of my team’s very proudest achievements and none of this would have been possible if the people of Yorkshire - and Great Britain - hadn’t taken the race to their hearts."

"This decision will help us attract even bigger names in the future and allow us to design a more varied and spectacular route."

"Our race is growing in stature all the time and the next two editions will hold even greater prestige given that Yorkshire is also hosting the UCI Road World Championships in 2019."

"Cycling is booming across the county and today marks an exciting new chapter for our race."

Tour de France Director Christian Prudhomme said: "The Tour de Yorkshire is a true success story and the way the race has grown over the last four years has been incredible."

"The size and passion of the crowds has not just impressed me, but the cyclists too. They are always blown away by the reception they receive and are already looking forward to coming back in 2018."

"Extending the race to four days will allow us to visit more parts of the county and put on an even greater show."

British Cycling Chief Executive Julie Harrington said: "We welcome the decision by the UCI to endorse the increase in duration of both the men's and women's races at the Tour de Yorkshire as a sign of the fantastic work done by Welcome to Yorkshire in collaboration with British Cycling in building an event which inspires people across Britain to get active by getting on their bikes."

"We look forward to working with the Tour de Yorkshire team to finalize arrangements."

The decision to grow the Tour de Yorkshire from three to four days means there will be eight start and finish destinations for the 2018 race, and these are set to be announced on Thursday 28 September. The full route will then be unveiled at a high-profile press conference on Tuesday 5 December.

Gerrans, whose illustrious palmarès includes victory at Milano - San Remo, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and stage wins at all three Grand Tours, is the third addition to BMC Racing Team's roster for the coming season.

Ochowicz said it was an easy decision to welcome a rider of Gerrans' calibre to BMC Racing Team's ranks.

"There are not many riders out there with a palmarès and wealth of knowledge like Simon Gerrans, so we are very excited to see Simon join us in 2018. Simon's experience in all aspects of the sport and his diverse skill set in multiple race situations will make him a tremendous asset to the team. We expect Simon to play a big role in BMC Racing Team's performance from the beginning of the season until the end," Ochowicz explained.

"As a team, we have multiple goals throughout the season and Simon will, in particular, be a high-level support rider for Richie Porte and Greg Van Avermaet, as well as a rider who can make the most of any opportunity that comes his way. We are looking forward to seeing what Simon can do when he puts on the BMC Racing Team jersey next year."

Gerrans is excited to start the next chapter in his career with BMC Racing Team.

"BMC Racing Team is a team that I have always admired, not only in their results, but also the professionalism of the organization. Obviously, there has always been a strong affiliation with Australians in the team starting with Cadel Evans, and then more recently with Richie Porte, Rohan Dennis and Miles Scotson," Gerrans said.

"I'm really excited about the position I have been offered in the team. I always saw myself spending the last period of my career in more of a road captain role and passing on my experiences. I'm looking forward to contributing to the team as both a support rider and leader when called upon."

"It's probably a bit early to start announcing specific goals but I hope to get my season started in Australia. There is obviously a Santos Tour Down Under crown to defend with Richie Porte, and it is a race I've always enjoyed and done well at"

In keeping with BMC Racing Team policy, no other details of the contract were released.

Simon Gerrans:

Frederik Frison Stays with Lotto Soudal until the End of 2019
Lotto Soudal has extended the contract with Frederik Frison until the end of 2019. 25-year-old Frison had a season full of bad luck. In May he crashed hard at Quatre Jours de Dunkerque and fractured his pelvis. He was working on his comeback when he got glandular fever. That’s why the Belgian didn’t race anymore this season. Since about two weeks he has been training again.

Frederik Frison: “When you consider the long time that I have been off the bike, the feeling on training is quite good. I now do training rides of about two hours and still take sufficient rest. I am not tired anymore. It really is a relief to be able to train again.”

“Mentally it was hard not to be able to make a comeback due to the glandular fever, but I could put things in perspective. I am already looking forward to next season. This contract extension of two years feels really good. The team knows that I always do my job and I am rewarded for that.”

“Next year I want to set a new step forward. I know I’m good at my job, but of course I can still become better as a domestique. As a rider I can become more complete and that’s something I want to work on next season. I also hope to ride a Grand Tour, that would be good for my development.”

“At Lotto Soudal we are a good team. It’s perfect to get guidance from experienced riders. Lars Bak, André Greipel and Marcel Sieberg for example have taught me a lot. I am now very motivated to prepare for 2018. At the moment I am building up my condition and soon I will start power training.”

Frederik Frison:

Timothy Dupont Joins Wanty-Groupe Gobert
Wanty-Groupe Gobert can announce his third signing for the 2018 season. A new sprinter will join us this winter as Timothy Dupont signs a two-year contract. The Belgian was the victory king in 2016 with 15 wins (including the Championship of Flanders and Nokere Koerse), 30 podiums and 50 top 10 spots. In 2017 he won the GP Jef Scherens in the colors of Veranda's Willems-Crelan. Bredene's 29-year-old rider will use his sprint for Wanty-Groupe Gobert in 2018 and 2019. It is the third transfer of the team after Odd Christian Eiking and Boris Vallée.

Timothy Dupont: "Last year I was already close to Wanty-Groupe Gobert. It is a beautiful team, which has great chances of contesting the Tour de France again. Moreover, I know most of the riders in the team. I agree very well with some Belgians, and especially with Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, my training partner and best friend who lives near me.

It will be difficult to repeat 2016 but I certainly want to win different races. I did not lose my speed, I showed that in GP Jef Scherens. I had a complicated year with many problems. Sometimes I was isolated in the final, but I still managed to win two races.

I want to show that I'm still capable of scoring at the highest level. I hope I'm able to dispute some spring classics. I can win races like Gent-Wevelgem in favorable circumstances. In the Tour of Flanders for example I would like to serve the team. In addition I get a two-year contract. That's a sign of trust and takes a bit of pressure away."

Jean-François Bourlart (general manager): "It was important for our team to find a sprinter with class after Kenny Dehaes leaving. A year ago we already negotiated with Timothy. After this difficult season Nick Nuyens gave him the opportunity to change teams to give his career a new turn. We are pleased to welcome Timothy Dupont in Wanty-Groupe Gobert and hope to lead him to victories."

Timothy Dupont at Wanty-Groupe Gobert HQ:

Victor Lafay Neo-Pro at Cofidis from 1 August 2018

French champions Victor Lafay will start his professional career on August 1, 2018 under the colors of the Cofidis team. Currently a trainee in the Nordic formation, he played the Tour du Doubs on September 10th and will participate this weekend at the Tour du Gévaudan.

"2017 was my first real season in the hopes"

This year, Victor Lafay won the title of French Champion hopes of the race online, a stage of the Tour d'Auvergne, the Prix de Bourg-en-Bresse, finished 9th in the Rhône-Alpes Isère Tour, 9th in the Tour de France. Savoie Mont-Blanc, 14th of the Tour de l'Ain and participated in the Tour de l'Avenir. His sporting career is atypical: with this beautiful season that opened the doors of professionalism, he was embarrassed for two years by a bony outgrowth to the femur. He recovered the sensations that made him one of the best national juniors in 2014, enabling him to win the renowned Tour du Valromey and the Tour du Léman.

"I was not the kind of runner who wanted to go pro at all costs, so I was pretty relativized and I lived it all easier," says Victor. "I could have asked a lot of questions after losing two seasons, but I took my trouble patiently after my pips. 2017 was my first real season in the hopes and very early the manager of the Cofidis team Yvon Sanquer made contact with me to see what he could propose to me by 2018."

"It's great to be able to evolve in a very pro context but also very human"

"We talked a lot and as a result of my journey, I felt that I had to wait until August 1, 2018 to go pro for the transition to take place under good conditions," Victor continued. Considered a pure climber at the very beginning of his young career, the native of Lyon is now more like a climber-puncher: "I evolved back from wound and gaining strength on the races."

He adds: "I thank the amateur clubs I've been through, whether it's Chambéry Cyclisme Formation or Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme, and my teammates with whom I had the chance to run. It is important to remember where we came from, I would never have been able to get there without them. These structures put human resources in order to be in the best possible environment and their driving force is passion. I know I'll find it on the Cofidis team. On the Tour du Doubs, my first race with the team as a trainee, I was able to see all the logistics and all the application of the staff, it is great to be able to evolve in a very pro context but also very human . It is a value that I value."

Victor Lafay:

Team LottoNL-Jumbo and Danny van Poppel Seal Two-Year DealDanny van Poppel will join Team LottoNL-Jumbo for the next two years. Van Poppel (24) preferred a transfer to Richard Plugge's team over a longer stay at Team Sky. "It's fantastic to join Team LottoNL-Jumbo. It’s great to see how the team is developing sprinting, as sprinting is my main goal”, Van Poppel says. “However, I’m looking very much forward to the classics too. I know that they suit me, although I wasn’t really able to show that due to some bad luck over the last years.”

Sportive director Merijn Zeeman of Team LottoNL-Jumbo considers Van Poppel a ‘classic talent' and confirms that the new recruit will get his chances in the sprints: “We are proud that Van Poppel has chosen our team above others and that we now have two world class sprinters within our team. We will make Danny even faster and make him a better cyclist."

Danny van Poppel:

Team Signs Up-and-Coming Colombian sprinting talent Soto
The Caja-Rural Seguros RGA team announced they are bolstering their sprinting talent for 2018 by signing young Colombian prospect Nelson Soto.

The twenty-three year old made waves last May when he won the Pan-American road race, beating some of the best riders in South America. He followed this result up with three stage wins at the Tour of Colombia, where he also claimed the points jersey.

Soto, who is nicknamed "The Hurricane" in his native Colombia for his quick turn of speed, will come into the Spanish outfit on a two-year deal. He comes across from the Colombian Continental team Coldeportes - Claro.

Soto will next participate at the World Championships Road Race in Bergen, Norway in support of Fernando Gaviria.

Nelson Soto:“I am fast and I can also climb well over medium - mountain terrain. I opted to move to Caja as they have trusted in me and given me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of racing in Europe.

My objectives are to learn, gain experience and fight for wins. Now I will go to the Worlds to represent my country. Here I will participate against some of the best international cyclists with the Colombian jersey on my back which will be a dream come true for me”

Nelson Soto:

Castrillo: Another Young Talent for Movistar
Spanish under-23 TT champion joins Blues after magnificent 2017 season, including national team caps at European and World champs.

The youngster from Jaca, just next to the Pyrenees in the Huesca province, will take the leap towards WorldTour racing with still one year left in his under-23 stage. Castrillo completed his season today, at the road race of the World Championships in Norway, after a promising 13th place in the individual time trial, a speciality he already shone at during last month's European champs in Denmark (20th).

A talented rider with great physical conditions (only 65kg for a 1.86m ahtlete), Castrillo, already a national champion as a junior, became one of the biggest revelations in the Spanish amateur scene during the last two years, with lots of consistency and versatility over the toughest courses as well as on time trials.

Castrillo comes from the Lizarte development team, a structure which has seen many of its talents joining the Movistar Team during the last few years: Héctor Carretero and Richard Carapaz (2016), Marc Soler and Antonio Pedrero (2015) and Dayer Quintana (2014).

Jaime Castrillo:

Degenkolb Hospitalized for Further Examinations
Trek-Segafredo announced today that John Degenkolb has been hospitalized to do further examinations after he had to abandon last week, in the 5th stage of PostNord Danmark Rundt - Tour of Denmark.

Team doctor, Jens Hinder: “In the last races he did, John suffered from breathing problems and a serious lack of power that prevented him to perform at his level. His condition was not improving enough over the last week, so we decided he had to undergo more profound examinations of his heart and lungs. John is feeling relatively well but has been hospitalized pending the results of these examinations. We will publish an update on his condition as soon as we have more information.”

John Degenkolb:

Bahrain-Merida Team Already Planning for Season 2018
As the season 2017 is slowly coming to an end, Bahrain-Merida Team is already planning and looking forward to the races in 2018. Like this year, a special attention will be given to the Giro d’Italia, not only because it is one of the most prestigious races in the world, but also we achieved podium this year and the goals are very demanding for the coming season.

Although the 2017 cycling season hasn’t ended yet, the eyes of the cycling elite are already turned to the future and the upcoming season. Some announcements of rider transfers have already been made, some are still to be official. But one thing is for sure – Bahrain-Merida Team’s ambitions are higher than ever.

As in 2017, Bahrain-Merida Team, being one of the UCI licensed team, will take part in all of the important races around the world. Some strategies have already been made and some are left for the winter. Special attention will, of course, be given to the three Grand Tours, with the aim of improving this year’s result. One of the Grand Tours has been recently officially announced – The Giro d’Italia 2018. As in 2017, also the Giro 2018 will have a special meaning for us, with Vincenzo Nibali being one of the best riders of our Team. The Giro 2018 will be held from 4th to 27th May and our strategists are already considering which riders they will chose and how to plan the races and trainings before the Giro so we can achieve the best possible results.

General Manger of the team, Brent Copeland satisfied with the result of our first Giro d’Italia commented: "It's always an exciting time of the year when we start finding out the race routes and calendars of the following season. The Giro d'Italia were the first to announce the start of their Grand Tour this week. Together with the technical staff we will wait for the rest of the race route to be announced as well as the route of the other Grand Tours before we put together the most competitive team for all three grand tours, of course the Giro is always an exciting race for us and as always we looking forward to participating."

Vincenzo Nibali:

Secret Training Methods
When it comes to marginal gains, the Sky team might have all the new power meters and wind tunnels, but do they know how the Belgians train?

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